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About Josh Nelson

About Josh

Growing up amidst the foothills of the Eastern Sierra Nevada, I considered the mountains my personal playground. What commenced as a bunch of kids casually riding MTBs in the Pinenut Mountains evolved into a fervent passion for racing, training, and exploring the limits of both my mind and body. While excelling in high school cross country and consistently being among the top contenders, the experience never quite matched the soulfulness I found on the bike.

As I geared up for the Junior World Cup MTB tour, the road bike emerged as a crucial tool for enhancing my fitness and gradually took center stage. Rather than running 3000m circles around a track in the spring, my XC/Track coach, in a supportive move, would take me to regional races that coincided with team meets.

Lyle Freeman, an enduring influence in my life, remains my most impactful coach. After clinching regional and national duathlon titles at the age of 17, I made a steadfast commitment to immerse myself fully in the world of road racing.

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USOPC

I was recruited to be a resident athlete at the US Olympic Para-Olympic Training Center, in Colorado Springs, CO. Part of a month-long high altitude research program I worked closely with some of the top cycling coaches, and physiologists.  I immediately became obsessed with data, how performance and fitness can be shaped with different variables, and had that burning dream every young cyclist had…

riding the Pro Tour. I still do and don’t think it will ever go away.

Integration

Fast forward a few years, and I found yoga.  Already having a solid base of fitness, and mobility, I was drawn to the practice for its mindfulness, dare I say spiritual aspects.

The truth is, you can’t separate the mind from body.  Yoga unified my beliefs and profoundly changed my view of the mind body connection.  My practice of yoga, and teaching at my studio, has been a gradual evolution.  I found purposeful ways to integrate yoga to maximize recovery, and keep injury at bay, as well as, working with the deep psychological, and physiological well-being that meditation can provide.  I dove into the science behind it all and directly experienced that adding meditation to your routine trains your brain to build resistance against daily stressors that impact your mental and physical health.

Now, as a competitive Cat 1 Roadie, Elite XC, Gravel aficionado, and Strava crown hunter, I have dedicated the next phase of my career to supporting cyclists along their individual journey of community, performance, and purpose.

 

Certifications

Level 2 USA Cycling Coach, SafeSport Certified, HVT Strength Training Certification, USDA Concussion in Sports, CDC Concussion in Sports, Level 2 NICA Coach, Wilderness First Aid Certified.

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Free Consultation

My purpose and passion is sharing this with others and helping you shoot for the stars. Let’s chat and see if we’re a good fit.

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Hi, I’m Josh and thanks for stopping by my site. 

My vision and goal is to share what I have learned over the past 25 years of professional endurance competition, training, and overall well-being.  I believe that training is much more than cranking out a prescribed workout via a powermeter.

At The Athletes Lab we focus on finding ways to balance, sustain, and progress on and off the bike.  Your races and training are only as strong as the ways you nurture them.  We train hard, but we recover harder.

Consultation